Sealing-off device



June 7, 1927.

c. MARTIN SEALING OFF DEViGE 3 Sheets-Sheeic 1 Filed June 4, 1923 5 w w 1K1} l a m mw/ w K l u, 6 n .AM... t m 4 p, m 5 Z 1 N J 3 a F 2 4 \\l..l l.%/ v v y/fl Inventor: CavI Martin,

, His Attorney,"

June 7- 1927.

C. MARTIN SEALING OFF DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Carl Marti Filed June 4, 1923 His Attorney;

'June 7, 1927.

C. MARTIN SEALING OFF DEVICE s Sheets-Sheef Filed June 4, 1923 Inventor Carl Marlgk,

His Attorney Patented 1...... 7, 927. UNITED STA cm mun, or

TES-

KEABNY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR To enunimr. ELECTRIC com- PANY, A CORPORATION or NEW roan PATE T o Flc sEALINe-orr DEVICE.

Application filed June 4, 1923. Serial No. 648,182.

The bulbs of incandescent lamps and similar evacuated devices are exhausted through an exhaust tube and sealed by heating the [exhaust tube to fusion near the bulb, thereby hermetically sealing the bulb and at the same time detaching it from the tube. This operation of sealing ofl' has usually been done by automatic devices, which sealed off the bulb,'but from which the sealed bulb must be removed by hand. These devices usually consist of rather com licated mechanism which occupies considerable space upon the table of the exhaust machine.

One object of my an automatic sealin off device which'will automatically'seal 0 a bulb and also automati-cally discharge or eject the sealed off bulb from the sealing ofi' device. Another object is to simplify and'improve the mechanism of the sealing ofi device so that mini mum space on the table of the exhaust machine will be required. A further object is iii general to simplify and 'improv automaticdevices of this character. In carrying out my invention I provide an automatic sealing ofi' device with means automatically operative at the conclusion of the sealing off operation for ejecting or dischargin'gthe sealed ofi' bulb. In a desirable form of my invention the bulb fork or holder is given a movement along the exhaust tube to efl'ect the sealing ofi opera- 'tion, and subsequently an additional move- .ment to eject the bulb from the sealing mg t e mechanism required to niovethe fork horizontally. The sealin ofi device may to advantage be actuated 'rectly fromthe exhaust spider which carries the bulbs tebeexhaustedn 'My invention will best beunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side-view of one. form of mysealing ofi device withcertain' parts in section; Figure 2 is a view at right anglesto the plane of Figure. 1 show-' invention is to provide bulb'holder. This additional movement --for ejecting the -of the stud. The head of the stud is coning the bulb engaging parts of the device 1n their initial position prior to engaging the bulb; Figure 3 is a similar view of the same parts in engagement with' the bulb .;at the beginning of the sealing ofi' operation; Figure 4 is a similar view of the same parts after the bulb has been moved slightly to draw a contraction in the heated exhaust tube; Figure 5 is a similar view of the same parts at theconclusion of the sealing of operation; Figure 6 is a view showing the position of the parts when automatically discharging the sealedofi' bulb;.,Figure -7 is a sideview of the sealing oif devlce operated by, a cam' instead of by compressed a1r, and in a position corresponding .to Figure 2; "Figures 8, 9, 10' and Ham side views of the same device in position corresponding to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6,-and Figure 12 is a plan view of the device shown infFigure 9.

The exhaust, machine of the usual type as shown in United States patents to 'Massey 996,936. and to Burrows 1,013,124,,comprises a table-1 with intermittent gearing2 for imparting astep by step. movement to a rotatable exhaust spider 3 provided with exhaust tube holder or heads 4 of the usual type. v haust tube,5of a lamp 6 which is to be exhausted and as the spider 3 rotates each lamp is automatically connected insuccession to the. various pumps through the flat Each head or holder receives the ex-' valve on which the spider 3 is carried. The

exhausted lamp is sealed off whileit is sta-' tionary in the position indicated 1n dotted lines in Figure 1.

The sealing ofi device comprises a movable bulb fork 7 for lifting or pulling the bulb away from the'exh'aust tube during the sealing off operation. This bulb fork is hinged or pivoted, and has-a tail 8 for tilting it about the pivot 8 by means of which it is hinged on a pivoted arm 9' which in turn is pivoted on a vertically movable head 10;, The bulb forkcannot swing below the horizontal because of a sto such as a threaded stud 11 set in the hea 10 to project through a-hole the arm 9 somewhat larger than the shank siderably larger than the'shank and acts as a stop to 't ment of the arm 9 and therefore the downward movement of the fork 7. The arm 9 and fork -7' are yieldingly held in the pothe counterclockwise movesition shown in Figure 2 by a spring 12. The head ismoved Vertically by some suitable mechanism, such as a vertically reciprocatingpiston rod 13 having a piston 14 in a cylinder '15 "which stands upright on the table 1 of the exhaust machine, which automatically moves the bulb fork to pull the bulb away from the exhaust tube. The

, upper end of the cylinder constitutes a dash pot which controls the upward movement of the head 10 and the bulb fork 7 and which is regulated by an adjustable vent valve 15'. A compression spring '16 may be placed beneath the piston 14 to store up energy and to assist in raising the bulb fork 7 into contact with the bulb 6. To impart an ad? ditional upward movement to the head 10 after the sealing off operation is concluded I provide some means for positively moving the head 10 to the extreme limit of its upward travel. In the particular device shown this additional positive movement is obtained by admitting compressed air into the cylinder 15 below the piston 14 through a port 17 in the tubular lower end of thepiston rod 13 supplied with compressed air through a flexible connection such as a'rubber tube 18. Compressed air is admitted to and exhaused from the cylinder 15 by a valve 19 which is automatically actuated by a cam 20 on the driving mechanism when the valve 19 is closed, a piston 19 on the valve stem uncovers exhaust ports 19", as shown in Fig. 1, thereby exhausting the air from the tube 18 and cylinder 15. When the valve 19 is open to admit compressed air to the cylinder 15 the piston covers the exhaust-ports. The sealing off device is actuated during the sealing ofi v operation by energy stored in an. energy storing mechanism such as a spring or weight. The energy is stored up during the movement of the spider 3 to carry an exhaust head 4 into the sealing off position. In the particular device shown the spider 3 sets the energy storing mechanism through pins 21 which project from the. exhaust heads 4 and depress one end of a pivoted lever 22, the otherend of which rises and actuates a pivoted lever 23 connected through alink 24 to the head 10.

The free end of lever 23 carries a weight 25 V which is lifted as the mechanism is set.

The sealing off mechanism is set, as best shown 1n Figure 1, while the lamp. is approaching the sealing off position. The pin 21 on the exhaust head in front of the one which holds the lamp to be sealed off encounters and presses down the lever .22,

thereby lowering the head 10 and bulb forkinto the initial position shown in Figure 2,

- and atthe' same time storing energy by compressing the spring 16 and hfting the weight 1 25. As the lamp to be sealed ofl comes into the sealing off position shown in dotted lines with the bulb immediately above the .bulb

fork, the pin 21 passes off the end of the a sion of the head 10. The full upward thrust of the head 10 is now exerted on the bulb and is resisted by the exhaust tube, which is held by the exhaust'head or holder 4, now stationary in the sealing ofl position of the lamp. As this exhaust tube is heated at a point adjacent the fork by some means, such as the burners 26 preferably mounted on the head 10, the glass softens until finally it yields and the head 10 moves upward sliglftly into its intermediate position shown in F igure 4, thereby drawing a contraction in the exhaust tube. The head 10 has now, due to the adjustment of the energy storing means, reached the limit of its sealing off movement. As the flames of the burners 26 continue to play upon the contraction in the exhaust-tube the glass of .the exhaust tube melts, thereby hermetically sealing the bulb and also freeing it from the exhaust tube, whereupon the spring 12 contracts and swingsthe arm 9 and fork 7 with the sealed .off bulb in it into the position shown Figure 5. The bulb is now. sealed off and completely separated from the exhaust tube.

The sealed off bulb may be automatically discharged from the bulb fork 7 by various means acting automatically at the conclusion of the sealing off operation. One simple and satisfactory way of automatically discharging the sealed ofii bulb ,is to tilt the fork about its pivot at the-conclusion of the sealing ofi' operation and thereby swing it into the position. shown in Figure 6 so that the bulb isdischarged by gravity. The fork may be moved or tilted in various ways to discharge the sealed off bulb,-but I prefer to provide some means for positively actuating or tilting the fork by the driving mechanism of the exhaust machine.

I prefer that the means for tilting fork and therebytdischarging'the sealed off the bulb bulb be constructed so as. to impart to thethe fork. A convenient way to dofthisis to impart an additional upwardmovement to the head 10, and thereby, as best shown/in Figures 5 and 6, bring the tail 8 ofthe into operative relation to some means, 'such as an adjustable stationary stop 27 which tilts the bulb fork 7 in response to the further movement of the head 10 from the posi tion shown in Figure 5, where the oflt' operation is completed, into the positionshown in Figure 6, where the bulb fork is tilted so much as a result of the cooperation of the fork tilting stop 27 and the actuating mechanism for the head 10 that it is out of the path air is exhausted from f the exhaust tube in the holder and the sealed oif bulb Will automatically fall or be discharged intothe discharge chute 28. This additional or extra movement is-a positive movement imparted to the reciprocating member or head through actuating means driven either directly or indirectly by the driving mechanism of the machine. For example, the bulb fork may be tilted by actuating the member 10 by admitting compressed air to the cylinder at the proper time through the valve 19 controlled automatically by the cam 20 on the driving mechanism. After the sealed off bulb is discharged the valve 19 .closes, the compressed the cylinder 15 and the bulb fork 7 and other parts drop back by their own weight to the normal position shown in Figure 5'. As the head 10 begins to move down, carrying the bulb fork 7 with it, the bulb fork is thrown back toward the horizontal .position,preferably by the stop 27 which encounters some part of the descending bulb fork, such as the return finger 27? adjacent tail 8, and positively moves the fork counterclockwise out of its discharge position.' This form of device using com pressed air has the advantage that it is practic'ally self-contained and can be installed on any exhaust machine very easily, as the cylinder 15 may be set on top of the table 1 of the exhaust machine and the cam 20 may be placed anywhere on the driving mechanism.

The bulb fork may also .be actuated. and tilted by mechanical connections direct to the driving mechanism, as shown in Figures 7 to 12. The head 10 with the bulb fork is mounted on the upper end of a vertically reciprocating rod 29 which is pulled down into the position shown in Figure- 7 by a pivoted arm 30 connected at one end to the rod 29 and actuated by a cam 31 which ro-' tates in a clockwise direction. This cam has a high point to move the rod to its lowest position, shown in Figure-'7, and thereby bring the bulb fork into the position of Fig wise direction, it-

ure 2. As the cam 31 rotates in a clock rmits the rod 29 and the bulb fork-to rise n succession into the positions of Figures'S, .9 and 1O which correspond to Figures 3, 4,'an'd ,5, and thereby seal off the bulb. At the-conclusion of the sealing off operation a .recess 32in the: cam 31 permits the additional upward 'mt'vement of the rod 29 which tiltsthe'fork,as shown in Figure 11,an,d discharges'Ythe-bulb. 1' vTo shroud 33 V which will, if necessary, positively actuate the ,arni'- -30 to the cam .pull the bulb away then further moving adj acent said fork give the rod the necessary additional move-' ment. The rod 29 is moved. upward by energy stored in some energy storing means, such as a weight 34 which is lifted, or .a spring 35 which iscompressed as the cam31 moves the rod 29 downward. The rate and extent of upward movement of the rod 29 is dependent on the strength of the energy storing means and the'viscosit of the heated glass of the exhaust tube, an is limited by 31.. If the spring 34 is made strongenough the weight 34 is unnecessary.

By my invention the bulb fork of the sealing off device moves vertically and is'automatically set just prior tothe arrival of the lamp at the sealing olf position. The upward movement of the fork into engage: ment with the lamp bulb and during the sealing off operation is controlled by a dash pot or a cam, but is caused by a spring or weight and is dependent lupon and regulated to a large extent by. the heated exhaust tube. At the conclusion of the sealing oil operation an additional"- movement is imparted to the bulb holder to automatically deliver the sealed off bulb to a delivery chute or other suitable carrier.

. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is v 1. In a-device for automaticallysealing offa bulb from an exhaust tube comprising a movably mountedbulb fork, means adjacent said fork for heating an exhaust tube, means for automatically mo tion of a movably mounted bulb fork, an

acent said fork to" exhaust tube heater, ad heat the. exhaust tube near the bulb, fork actuating mechanism for moving said fork to from the exhaust tube to an extent suflicient to seal ofli'the bulb; and said fork and means to said further, movement for discharging the sealed off bulb automatically.-

3. In a device for automatically sealing off a bulb from an exhaust tube, the combination of a pivotally mounted bulb fork, aheater to heat the exhaust tube near the bulb, means for movingsaid fork bodilyto pull the bulb away from the exresponsive 'haust tube sufiiciently to sea'lit olf, and

the' viscosity of the glass of means for subsequently tiltingsaid fork .on

its pivot to discharge the sealed' otf bulb .from-thefork. 4.,In a device ofi a'bulb from an .for automatically sealing exhaust tube, the combi- I nation of a'reciprocating member, 'af-bulb insure the tilting of the bulb fork-I provide? the' cam with a fork pivotedlymounted on said member,

toheat the exhaust tube near the bulb, means an exhaust tube heater adjacent said forkfor imparting to said member a movement suflicient to pull the bulb away from the exhaust tube and thereby seal ofilthe bulb and for then imparting a further movement to said member, and means responsive to said further movement for tilting said fork to discharge the sealed off bulb by gravity.

5. In a device for automatically sealing ofi a bulb from an exhaust tube, the combination of a movable member, a bulb fork on said member. a heater for softening the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, means for imparting to said member a movement sufficient to pull the bulbaway from the exhaust tube and seal it off, and means responsive to further movement of said memberfor automatically discharging the sealed off bulb from the bulb fork. Y

6. In a device for automaticallyisealing off a bulb from an exhaust tube, the combination of a movable member, a bulb fork mounted on said member, a heater for softening the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, means cooperating with said fork at the end of thetravel of said member to discharge the sealed off bulb automatically, and actuating means for first moving said member to an intermediate point to cause said fork to pull the bulb away from the exhaust tube sufficiently to seal it off, and. subsequently moving said member to the end of its travel to discharge automatically the sealed off bulb from the fork. Q

7. In a device of the character described the combination of an intermittently movable holder for the exhaust tube of a bulb,

a member mounted to reciprocate to one side of the path of the exhaust tube in said holder and parallelto said exhaust tube, a bulb fork mounted-on said member to project into the path of movement of the exhaust tube with its open end toward the oncoming" exhaust tube, means for heating the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, and actuating means for reciprocating said member to bring the bulb fork into engagement with the bulb and: pull the bulb away from the exhaust-tubesufficiently to seal it oif and for imparting further movement in the same direction to said member, and means responsive to said further movement to. automatically discharge the sealed off bulb from the fork.

8. In a device of the character described the combination with a holder intermittently movable horizontally, and adapted to .hold the exhaust tube of a bulb vertically,

a bulbAfork mounted to reciprocate vertically i alignment with 'said holder when stationary in sealing off position and with its open end toward the oncoming exhaust tube holder, a heater for softenin the exhaust tube adjacent said bulb for means responsive to the movement of said fork into its uppermost position to automatically discharge a sealed off bulb from the fork and actuating means operating in synchronism with said holder for automatically lowering said fork out ofthe path of the bulb as the exhaust tube holder moves into sealing ofl position, then while the exhaust tube holder is stationary in sea-ling off position raising the fork to an intermediate position to pull the bulb aw'a from the exhaust tube sufficiently to seal it off, and then raising the fork to its uppermost position and thereby automatically discharging the sealed off bulb.

9. In a device of the character described the combinationwith an intermittently rotatable exhaust tube holdermovable horizontially, a bulb fork mounted to reciprocate vertically in the path of movement of the exhaust tube holder, a heater for softening the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, energy storing means connected to said fork and tending when set to move said fork upward, and thereby pull the bulb'away from the exhaust tube sufficiently to seal it off and connections between said holder and said fork to depress said fork during the movement of said holder into the sealing off position and thereby set said energy storing means, and to release said fork while said holder is stationary in sealing ofl' position, and means for imparting to said fork an upward movement in addition to that due to said energy storing means to tilt the fork and thereby automatically discharge the sealed off bulb. v

10. In a device of the character described the combination of a movable holder for the exhaust tube of a bulb, a member, mounted to reciprocate transversely to the direction of movement of. said holder and along the exhaust tube in said holder, a

bulb fork on said member, a burner for heating the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, and actuating means for first moving said member to bring the bulb fork into en-.

and along the exhaust tube, a heater for,

softening the exhaust tube adjacent said fork, and common actuating means for said holder and said' fork for moving said fork out. of the, way of the bulb as said holder carries it into sealing off position, and for automatically moving the fork along the a exhaust tube while said holder is stationary eiently to seal it off and then imparting 'an additional and further movement to the adjustable vent valve to control the escape fork further to carry it out of the path of travel of the exhaust tube in the holder. 12. A sealing 'ofl' torch comprising a cylinder, a piston, therein having a piston rod projecting through the one end of the c linder, a bulb fork mounted on the proje ing end of said piston rod, a burner mounted to project its'flame adjacent said fork, an

of fluid from the. space between the piston and said end of the cylinder, energy storing means tending when set to move said piston 15 toward said end of the cylinders," and means for admitting compressed air to the space between the piston and the other end of the cylinder to impart to the-piston a movement additional to that imparted by the energy 20 storing device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, 1923.

' CARL 

